19 November 2016

KARACHI: The National Commission for Human
Rights (NCHR) has demanded that the fact-finding commission’s report on the
Gadani ship-breaking yard tragedy be made public.

At a meeting held on Thursday, the NCHR also
sought immediate release of compensation for the families of those who lost
their lives in the incident and suffered injuries.

The meeting was presided over by NCHR member
from Sindh Anis Haroon and attended by members of the fact-finding commission.

Ms Haroon said that working conditions at the
ship-breaking yard needed an overhaul, adding that restoration of the labour
inspection system in all the four provinces under competent labour inspectors
should be considered on a priority basis.

She said that Gadani, being the second
largest ship-breaking yard after Taiwan, was a victim of “negligence of
relevant agencies and core labour conventions”.

She said that “contract system in all
industrial establishments should be abolished” according to a recent decision
taken by the Supreme Court. A separate law to facilitate union formation should
be devised in line with the Trade Unions Act, 1926. “Ship-breaking needs to be
recognised as an industry so that labour rights can be upheld,” she added.

Meanwhile, the burns centre of the Civil
Hospital discharged the last two injured of the Gadani incident that took place
on Nov 1.

According to the centre’s in-charge, Dr Ehmer
Al Ibran, they had received 27 injured on the day of the incident and 10 of
them were admitted.

“Among them, seven died within the next three
days due to 90 to 100 per cent burns. One was discharged and the remaining two
left for their villages against medical advice,” Dr Ehmer added.

One of the doctors at the centre said that
many of the injured were referred to Patel Hospital in Gulshan-i-Iqbal which
had facilities for treating burn patients.

“In this case, majority of the injured
received burn injuries between 80pc and 100pc. Those with minor injuries were
shifted to either Patel Hospital or eventually went back to their hometowns,”
the doctor added.

At the same time, the death toll remains 28
with about 60 injured and 10 missing. The number of missing labourers is based
on the number of families who approached the National Trade Union Federation
(NTUF), according to its deputy general secretary, Nasir Mansoor.

Both the trade unions and members of the NCHR
maintain that the number of dead may vary and “need to be confirmed by relevant
authorities and contractors who kept records of workers”.